Marco Rubio to boycott G20 as Trump targets South Africa

Accusing South Africa of engaging in "anti-Americanism,US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday announced that he will not be attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting scheduled to be held in Johannesburg from February 20 -21.

Marco's decision regarding G20 comes after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off funding to the African country.Trump has declared that " South Africa is confiscating land" and "treating certain classes of people very badly".

The Trump administration's recent decisions point to further straining of the diplomatic ties between US and South Africa.

Reiterating the US president’s claim that South Africa was expropriating private property. Marco posted on X, “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] and climate change.”

Rubio said in a post on X, “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.”

The Group of Twenty (G20), is an intergovernmental economic forum comprising 19 countries and two regional unions - the European Union (EU), and recently the African Union (AU). It represent 85 per cent of the global economy, 75 per cent of world trade and 67 per cent of the global population.Africa holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.

Additionally, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, claiming that it “has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”.

The ICC can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of member states.

“Neither country has ever recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction, and both nations are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war,” Trump wrote in the order. The order was issued shortly after Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C.

The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant .

The Trump administration (2017-21) had punished the court with sanctions for war crimes investigations against U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

Trump's action points to SOUTH AFRICA 's genocide case against Israel

To understand the diplomatic equations in a broader perspective, South Africa's stand against Israel is a major frictional point in the US.

South Africa, in December 2023, instituted proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, claiming violations of the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The international support for the case has increased with several countries joining it including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Spain and Turkiye.

During his annual State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and said that South Africa's case against Israel over its genocidal acts in Gaza is in accordance with the Genocide convention..

“South Africa has acted in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention by instituting proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice,” he said.

Ramaphosa also expressed his country’s “full commitment” to the articles of the UN Charter in terms of the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

He appeared to criticise Trump, saying, “We are witnessing the rise of nationalism, protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause ... We will not be bullied.”

The Hague Group launched a new legal campaign against Israel alleging the Jewish state is illegally occupying Palestinian territory, committing war crimes in Gaza and not abiding by the rulings made by the international courts.

The Hague group includes representatives from 9 countries: South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Namibia, Bolivia, Honduras, Senegal, Colombia and Malaysia.

South Africa's G20 vision

Eyeing to address critical global challenges, South Africa is positioned to take a leading role in advocating for sustainable development within the Global South, particularly during its G20 Presidency in 2025, where its stated theme is "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability."

Among the key areas the presidency will focus on include addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality; as well as Africa’s development which entails placing Africa’s development at the forefront in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, ‘The Africa We Want’.

Not only G20 multilateral forums, South Africa relations with BRICS members China, Russia and Iran has added concerns to US.

Syria: Challenges ahead

 

Syria is in the midst of an uncertain future following the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled the country for nearly two decades. Bashar al-Assad, the son of Hafez al-Assad, who established the Assad regime in 1970, has reportedly fled to Russia. As the country navigates this transition, leaders and citizens in the region and beyond have expressed high hopes for the creation of a new Syria. However, caution is warranted, as demonstrated by the experiences of other conflict-affected states like Libya.

 

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy underscored this concern, stating, "We do not want Syria to become like Libya, fractured and vulnerable to terror groups."

 

Syria has become a battleground for regional players and armed groups, with Islamists led by Ahmad al-Sharaa emerging as significant players in the transitional process. Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) has acknowledged that it will take at least four years to conduct national elections. Once affiliated with the Islamic State and later al-Qaeda, Sharaa moderated his views in May 2018 and formed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), or the "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant."

 

After being ruled by the Alawite minority for half a century and  13 years of brutal civil war, Syria faces immense challenges, including economic instability and the daunting task of uniting its diverse political and social fabric. The country is home to a wide array of ethnic and religious groups, including Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians, Christians, Druze, Alawites, and both Shia and Sunni Arabs, the latter constituting the majority of the Muslim population.

 

The presence of numerous armed rebel groups presents a significant hurdle to a smooth transition, as tensions between rival factions could reignite conflict. In a bid to prevent such an outcome, Sharaa unveiled an accord last week to dissolve these groups and integrate them into the defense ministry.

US role in creating 

Questions emerge  what will be the future for the nation’s governance, security and economy after the sudden fall of Assad regime

Professor Jeffery Sachs said, "It’s a game. This is the Deep State and they have their wars and every war has been phoney. Some wars the American people are basically never told about, for example, the war in Syria. And you may actually hear from grown up reporters who are lying through their teeth or ignorant beyond imagining that, “Oh, the war in Syria, yes, Russia intervened in Syria”. Well, do you know that Obama tasked the CIA to overthrow the Syrian government starting four years before Russia intervened? What kind of nonsense is that? And how many times did the New York Times report on Operation Timber Sycamore, which was the presidential order to the CIA to overthrow Bashar Al Assad? Three times in 10 years."

"Where did that war come from? You know what? It’s quite surprising. That war came from Netanyahu, actually. You know that it’s weird. And the way it is is that Netanyahu had, from 1995 onward, the theory that the only way we’re going to get rid of Hamas and Hezbollah is by toppling the governments that support them. That’s Iraq, Syria and Iran, he revealed reportedly in a podcast.

 THE NEW SYRIAN AUTHORITY

The new Syrian authorities have made nearly 50 high-ranking military appointments, including at least six foreign fighters—among them Chinese and Central Asian Uyghurs, a Turkish citizen, an Egyptian, and a Jordanian. These appointments appear to reflect the role played by foreign fighters during the civil war, which ultimately led to the regime’s collapse. However, the inclusion of foreign jihadists in Syria’s defense structure may face resistance from the Syrian population and Western countries, who fear these fighters could prioritize the interests of their respective states over Syria’s sovereignty.

 

The coming days will reveal how consensus is built among rival command chains and powerful commanders while keeping the interests of the Syrian people at the forefront.

 

While elaborating about the difference between Libya and Syria conflicts,Tim Eaton,Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, said, “Major difference is the structure of Syria’s economy. Under heavy sanctions, Assad’s ‘useful Syria’ rump largely turned itself into a narco state through its production of amphetamines. Other areas of the country effectively operated as if there was a formal partition. Parts of northern Syria use the Turkish lira as their currency”.

 

With the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syria has become a geopolitical battleground for Western and regional powers. Turkey and Israel, in particular, are vying to expand their influence and secure territorial gains. The United States and its allies, including Israel, have described Assad's downfall as part of the broader Arab Spring revolution that began in 2011, marked by regime changes in countries such as Tunisia.

 

The Western nations appear to have revived their sagging economies through sale of arms to Al-Qaeda, who have now tried to distant itself from terror groups and created rebels groups and other Jihadis.

 

Fulfilling his ambition of a "Greater Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed Israeli forces to take control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, initially established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria, to expand settlements. Since December 8, 2024, the Israeli military has conducted airstrikes on Syria’s defense infrastructure, aiming to weaken the country’s security capabilities and achieve strategic objectives.

 

 The regime change in Syria is widely seen as part of a broader strategy by the U.S., Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to advance their regional agendas. Assad was a key ally of Iran, Palestine, and Hezbollah. With Assad’s ouster, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is now exploring options to confront Iran. Meanwhile, Iran’s security chief, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, has hinted at the formation of a new resistance movement against Israel within Syria.

 

 Turkey and Israel are both striving to expand their influence within Syrian territory. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has reportedly directed forces to establish a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria, extending into the demilitarized zone near Mount Hermon. Israeli forces have also expanded their presence beyond the occupied Golan Heights, particularly in the Quneitra province of southern Syria.

 

 Turkey, leveraging its NATO membership and its extensive southern border with Syria, is focused on dismantling the Kurdish YPG group, which it considers a terrorist organization. The YPG, the Syrian branch of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), has waged a decades-long insurgency against Turkey. Turkey’s growing influence in Libya and Syria underscores its ambitions to reshape the Mediterranean’s geopolitical landscape through Special Economic Zone or assisting in reconstruction. While Israel may oppose Ankara’s activities but Western powers might view Turkey as a stabilizing force for maritime security in the region.

 

Meanwhile, Russia has maintained a significant presence in Syria, engaging with various opposition groups. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for inclusive political dialogue based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Moscow continues to advocate for an inclusive political process while keeping its military bases in Syria on high alert.

Regional and Western players have supported various elements of the Syrian opposition to differing extents throughout the conflict. However, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, concerned about the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have aligned with Tehran’s call for regional unity to ensure stability and security.

 

 Building Syria’s economy remains a monumental task for HTS, which is still designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and other countries. According to the World Bank’s latest report from mid-2024, approximately 69% of Syrians live in poverty, with extreme poverty affecting 27%, a sharp rise from negligible levels in 2009.

 

 The nation’s infrastructure has collapsed, and Syria’s GDP shrank by over 85% from 2011 to 2023, dropping to $9 billion, with a further contraction of 1.5% projected for 2025. While oil resources are concentrated in Kurdish-controlled areas, Syria is not a major exporter in the Eastern Mediterranean, further compounding its economic woes.

BRICS summit in Kazan: Russian President Putin shows strength to West

 Russia is hosting the expanded format of BRICS summit in which top leaders of over two dozen countries are in attendance displaying its strength amidst the war with Ukraine  and also projecting as a strong alliance that may appear to counter the very core of Western hegemony.

The three- day BRICS summit is being held in Kazan under the theme: "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security" and also to bring out alternative payment method  for intra-trade.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown to the West that Russia is not in isolation rather it is presenting to the world a massive alliance as a counterweight to the West.

Kremlin termed the BRICS summit as  “the largest foreign policy event ever held” in Russia. As Russia  and China share close ties and Beijing  has been a key trading partner for Moscow. Demands increased to have an alternative payment system for trading  and this time members of the BRICS are seen discussing payment mechanisms using local currencies that are more reliable .,Russia has also ramped up efforts to move away from the SWIFT system  as many of the country’s financial institutions were cut off from the Western financial network in 2022.

India, which is having close ties with both US and Russia, is also in the Quad, a security partnership with Australia, Japan, and the United States. India and China, after four years since the violent clash took place in Galwan Valley, reached a patrolling agreement at the Line of Actual control just a day before the BRICS summit, raising speculations of a bilateral meet between the two leaders.

The expanded BRICS which includes Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates,Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia, now covers 43 percent of the world's population, 32 per cent of the world's land area, around 35% of global GDP and 20% of world exports.

BRICS members have been looking for  greater flexibility in cross-border transactions, reducing reliance on the dollar for intra-group trade..

Leaders of BRICS member countries – including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – are attending the summit.UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have also in attendance. Representatives from 36 countries are also in attendance.The summit aims to provide opportunities to develop mutually beneficial cooperation that contributes to the sustainable growth and development of South Africa.

 

The most significant aspect of the summit is that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly criticised Guterres for not accepting an invitation to attend a Ukraine-backed peace summit in Switzerland in June, “he did, however, accept the invitation to Kazan from war criminal Putin. This is a wrong choice that does not advance the cause of peace. It only damages the UN’s reputation.”

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the only leader of a NATO country will also be attending the meeting, irking the NATO.North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance established by the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. There are currently 30 member states.

 

The agenda includes discussions on pressing international issues, with a particular focus on the escalating situation in the Middle East and interactions between the BRICS countries and the Global South in the interests of sustainable development.

Moreover, Iran and Russia also share mutual concerns of sanctions by West and the reports that Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, will attend the BRICS summit in Kazan will make Israel somewhat worried.

As Middle East has been the issue of attention after Israel broadened sphere of its war from Palestine to Lebanon. and the failure of the UNSC also glaringly displayed the hollowness and ineffective UNSC to control wars.

The Leaders of Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will meet for the first time since new members were invited to join BRICS during the Johannesburg II BRICS Summit of 23 August 2023.

During the XVI BRICS Summit, BRICS Leaders will reflect on the status of mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation, regional and global economic and political developments as well as global governance reform.

The three-day conclave will be the largest gathering of world leaders in Russia in decades where the BRICS leaders will exchange views on pressing issues on the global and regional agenda. They will discuss the three main pillars of cooperation identified by the Russian chairmanship: politics and security, the economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian ties.

 

Particular attention will be given to the potential expansion of BRICS through the proposed establishment of a new category of ”partner nations.“

Reports will also be delivered by the chairpersons of the New Development Bank, the Business Council, the Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, and the Women's Business Alliance.

On the final day of the summit, a BRICS Plus/Outreach format meeting will be convened, with representatives from nearly forty countries in attendance. Among them are leaders from the CIS, delegations from numerous Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and Latin American countries, as well as heads of executive bodies from various international organisations.

Hong Kong crisis: Protests in the offing as China announces security laws banning subversion and separatism

Hong Kong is gearing up for mass protests as China announced to impose the new national security legislation on Hong Kong, a blow to the territory’s autonomy after Beijing witnessed massive violent pro-democracy protests last year that plunged the city into its deepest turmoil since it returned to Beijing rule in 1997 and challenged Xi Jinping's leadership.

No need to reconfigure Asia-Pacific as Indo Pacific, halt strategies to contain China, says Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov

New Delhi, Jan 15: Speaking during the fifth edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2020 in the Indian capital, Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday slammed both United States and India for making an attempt to establish a concept of Indo-Pacific to contain China.

Maharashtra crisis: BJP betrays Shiv Sena and people; a lesson for Saffron allies

 The treatment which is being given to the Shiv Sena at this juncture inspite of a decades old alliance comes as a lesson for Thackeray’s dynasty and to all the allies of the BJP across India. Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray should now explore another option to form a government, independent of each other, as their Plan B by taking Congress and NCP on board.

India and Pakistan on the Brink of War : China, Russia sees opportunity in US absence

Feb 28 ; The aerial combat engagement between Indian and Pakistani Air Forces against each other risks triggering into a worst escalation if not a war like situation between South Asia's nuclear-armed rivals.

Modi 's informal summits with Jinping, Putin : A big failure

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his tenure by pledging to take India to new heights by declaring it a power of South Asia but has ended into becoming a subservient to China with weak economy .

Militarization of South China Sea by China could trigger conflict with US

To rule the world's sea, China is using both soft and hard power to increase its military footprint across the world. Deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the Spratly Islands by China has escalated the risks of possible military clashes with the United States and also renewed tensions between countries who are claimants of strategically vital Sou

Narendra Modi-Xi jinping meet:Agendas and priorities

The Modi government has been deeply involved in  secretive meetings and agreements with China, keeping  the Opposition parties and people of India in dark amidst the heavy deployment of PLA and military vehicles in South Doklam, providing Chinese access to the ‘Jampheri Ridge’ that overlooks the Siliguri Corridor i.e. the strategic ‘Chicken Neck’ which is the ‘Gateway to India's North East’.

Xi-Modi summit:China regional power, India to remain cautious

There should not be high expectations from the informal summit between PM Modi and President Xi in the Wuhan on the banks of Yangtze as India has already bowed to please regional power China by cancelling the events of Dalai lama in New Delhi.

Modi's Kashmir strategy boomerangs: Youth radicalised, Army faces heat

The situation in Jammu and Kashmir is grim and both the PDP-BJP coalition government in the state and the Modi government at the centre has failed to put an end to the killings and violence in kashmir, increasing radicalisation of youth who are taking up arms rather the crisis has deepened after the kathua gangrape came to light and the manner in which lawyers of the bar council and BJP ministers shielded the accused.

Trump's tactics in diplomacy:Boosts Pompeo's image, secures America's interests

US President Donald Trump boosted the calibre of CIA director Mike Pompeo who travelled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un,a secret visit undertaken by him to lay the groundwork for the planned upcoming historic summit between the two leaders.

US, Russia and the Middle East

Warning by the Russian President Vladimir Putin that further Western attacks on Syria  would bring chaos to the world affairs,it  throws light on the prospect of  a real possibility of a direct military confrontation between the United States and Russia.

Afghanistan- Pakistan Call on Taliban to join Peace Talks

President Ashraf Ghani and visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi have called on the Afghan Taliban to respond positively to the peace offer and join the peace process without further delay. They agreed that there was no military solution to the ongoing Afghan conflict and that the political solution was the best way to end the 17 year old war.

Britain's blunder :Can't confirm whether nerve agent was from Russia

Social media is abuzz with the announcement by Britain scientists who denied that Russia is the source of the nerve agent A-234 (also known as "Novichok") which was used to poison former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his 33-year-old daughter Yulia in early March in the English city of Salisbury.